Rotary Club of Beijing

This is a short summary, for the full Bulletin in PDF, click the following link:
090512_bulletin.pdf

To mark the first anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquake, the meeting started with one minute silence to remember the people who lost their lives during this terrible disaster.
New member Rtn. Ilse led the four way test in English and Chinese.

Sergeant-at-Arms Gilbert welcomed visiting Rotarians:
- Rtn. Khalid E. Abbas, RC Dubai
- Rtn. David Liscumb, RC Louina Bali, Indonesia
- Rtn. Jeffrey Graves, RC Hampstead, London
- Rtn. Dietrich von Saldern, RC Springe, Germany
- Rtn. Markus Kistler, RC Brugg, Aare, Rhein, Switzerland
- Rtn. Ron Renner Frankfurt, Michigan, USA
- Rtn. Helen Boyle, RC London, UK
And visiting guests:
- Ms. Weiping Chen, guest of Rtn. Jeffrey Graves
- Mrs. Barbara von Saldern, guest of Rtn. Dietrich von Saldern
- Ms. Meng, guest of David von Saldern
- Mr. Alexandre Pinon, Speaker
- Mr. Daniel Kloeden, guest of Rtn. Kevin
- Ms. Priscilla Wong, guest of Rtn. Vicky
- Ms. Jenny Zhang, guest of Rtn. Josephine
- Mr. Collin Saunders, guest of Rtn. Stephane
- Mr. Ulrike Ellmann, guest of Rtn. Gilbert
- Mr. Walter Jansen, guest of Rtn. Gilbert
- Mrs. Sophie Apithy, guest of Rtn. Apithy

Banners were exchanged with the following clubs:
- RC of Springe, Germany
- RC of Lovina Bali, Indonesia
- RC of Dubai

Reports & Announcements
Webmaster Gilbert reported that a new “members-only” level of access is now available at the club website. Members wishing to use this new level of access should register on the website.

PE Henry presented a banner from RI President John Kenny to President Kevin for the Rotary year 2009-2010.

PE Henry also updated members on the Ball preparations. He reported that more than 200 tickets had been purchased or reserved so far. PE Henry also happily reported that he had just bought a second table for the Ball through his wife’s connections with the ladies from the Wine & Caviar Club in Beijing.

Rtn. Curt updated members on the auction preparations and reported that we will have a dry run of the auction at next Tuesday luncheon.

Speaker’s Program
Rtn. Allan introduced today’s speaker, Mr. Alexandra Pinon. Mr. Pinon works for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in China. His moving presentation focused on MSF’s HIV/AIDS Prevention, Comprehensive Care & Treatment in Nanning (Guangxi Province) where a total of 1550 patients were registered since the opening of the facility; and MSF’s Psychological support program to people affected by last year’s Sichuan Earthquake.